Shock absorber



July 20 1926. C. W. THOMPSON SHOCK ABSORBER Filed April 14, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 1.5 Q .59 N 2. -ar 56 July 20 1926. 1,592,912

c. w. THOMPSON snocx ABSORBER Filed April 14, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 amucwcoz Ju y 20,1926. 12

C. W. THOMPSON SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Ap'ril 14-, 1924 a Sheets-Sheei 5 vwcm cow Patented July 20, 1926 oLAnA'n'oE THOMPSON, or

SERING- oonronArron, or

WARE.

YVILMINGTON, DELAYVARE, ASSIGNOR T0 THOMPSON WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A GQRPORATION OF DEL-A."

SHOCK ABSORBER.

Application filed April 14, 1924. Serial No. 706,472.

The device provided by the invention is formed and arranged so that it offers resistance to spring compression between the load and running-gear of a vehicle, and restrains with greater resistance the upward rebound of the load after spring compression. The device is intended primarily for association with motor-vehicles, but it also is adaptable to other uses.

More specifically, the invention pertains to devices of the type that comprise a piston acting in a casing against fluid therein.

It is an object of the invention, not only so to form and arrange the parts that more resistance is offered to piston movement in one direction than in the other, but also to offer more resistance to piston movement near the ends of the casing than when the piston is in intermediate position whereby sudden stoppage of relative movement of the casing and piston and of the parts eonlh-JLflJQLl therewith is prevented.

Further, it is an object of the invention to associate with piston-ports a valve member so arranged that it will leave the ports open on movement of the piston in one direction and instantly restrict fluid flow therethrough on commencement of movement in the opposite direction.

t also is a purpose of the invention to improve details of construction and arrangement of parts in devices of this sort.

When considered in connection with the description herein, the characteristics of the invention areapparent from the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, wherein embodiments of the invention adapted for use in motor-vehicles are disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

Although the disclosures herein exemplify what now are considered to be preferable embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that it is not the intention to be limited necessarily thereto in interpretation of the claims, as modifications and adaptations within the limits of the claims can be made without departing from the nature of the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views of the drawings, of which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section;

Fig. 9. is a section on the,1ine 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 1s a section illustrative of an alternative form of valve member;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section illustrative of an alternative form of easing;

Fig. 6 is a section illustrative of another form of valve member;

Fig. 7 is a section illustrative of another form of stop member; and

Fig. 8 is a view of an installation of the device.

The device includes an elongated casing 9, which preferably is of cylindrical form. hen of the type disclosed by Fig. 1, the casings may be produced by severing re quired lengths from tubular stock and by screw threading the pieces exteriorly one end and interiorly at the other.

The casing is closed at one end by a cap 10, provided with a port, closed by a plug 11, through which the device may be charged and drained of liquid. The cap includes a sleeve 12 screwed onto the exteriorlythreaded end of the casing. The sleeve has an interior annular abutment or shoulder 13, wh ch bears against the end of the easing when turned down thereagainst, and a gasket 14 maybe interposed between the abutment and easing end to afford a fluidtight joint. The cap contains a chamber located beyond the end of the casing. The interior diameter of the cap-sleeve is slightly greater than that of the casing, so that the casing end affords an interior annular abutment or seat 15 at the end of the sleevechamber for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The casing of the form exemplified by Fig. 1 is closed at its other end by a plug 16 screwed thereinto and having an exterior abutment or shoulder 17 bearing against a gasket 18 between it and the casing end to provide a fluid-tight joint. The plug contains a stuffing box 19, which tends inwardly of the casing beyond the body of the plug and terminates in a centrally-positioned annular abutment or wall 20.

The casing also may be a hollow casting of a form exemplified by Fig. 5.. In that form it has near its eXteriorly-threaded end an annular abutment or shoulder 13, on which is a gasket 14?, against which the end there'froinand carrying a nut 27.

therethrough.

integrally .18 rz'iciprocable nthc ith he casing-wall. .1 pot-mace. striding-box and-*eiitcnds intdthe casing. it has on its inner end portion an annular shoulder or seat a part 2a 01 lessdiamterextending there? der or seat on that 1. rt, and a threaded terminal 26 otlessdiameter extending A hollow piston-or stress-sustaining member 28isrec1procablein the cas ng and has close lit with theside wallthereor". The pis- .tonincludes an upper disk-lil ie wall or head 2 having a central opening-of substantially the SlZB'gOf the threaded piston-rodterminal and through; which that 1 terminal extends. The nutJQTholds the piston on the rod and the pistondiead against the shoulder Equally-spaced ports 30 extend throhglithe head in circular disposition.

A floatingyalve member 31, substantially of washer-like flat form, is movable freely on the, reduced part 24 of the piston-rod between the Shoulder 23 and the piston-head, which parts limit its sliding. movement It is formed to seat closely' against the head and in that positionto close the major area of the ports 30 a'nd thus restrict or reduce the area of the ports. available for fluid flow The member 31 may be formed in any one of several ways to leave open part ofthe area of the-ports 30 when it is against the head. H

For example, the member 31, as shown by Fig -2, has a segmentomitted or cuttherefrom along line a, which is so coordinated with respect to the. V eircularly-disposed ports 30' that, when it is tangent to the inner side of one of them, it is about tangent to the outer side of an adjacent port. Thus the area of one port is uncovered by the valve member, and it is unnecessary to prevent rotary movement ofv that member; for, if the member turns and begins to cover one port, it at the same time. will uncover an; approximately equal. area of. another port. In view ofthe fact that it is unnecessary to spline the member 31 on the pistonrod or otherwisepreventits rotation, it is freely movable on-the rod and is'not apt to become caught either in or out-of port-closing position. It is to be understood, of course,- that, if desired,--the valve member may be formed so that it will leave more than one port or the area of less than'one port uncovered, the amount of uncovered area being; dependent uponthe size ofthe segment omitted or cut from .theomembere The valve member also. may be formed with ports ;32 so; relatively disposed with sclo sed by Fig. 1 is formed 1. b

,nn annular shonl-' 1 Fig; 6, the valve member 31 is of such diameter that its periphery intersects the "periph- 'eries oftheports 30, and thus leaves a part of all of those ports uncovered and open.

The piston also includes a side wall or skirt 33 integrally formed with and extending from the head 29 toward the stuffing-box end of the casing. That wall closely fits the easing-wall, and it comprehends a chamber open at one-end and having the ports 30 communicating therewith. Thediameter of the valve member 31 is. somewhat less'than 1 the. interior diameter. of the wall 33, so that an annular passage is afforded between the periphery of that member and the wall from one side of the member to the other.

A .c impression-resistive coil-spring 3e rests on an end wall or abutment of the casing, a s on the end wall or abutment 20 of the 'stufiing-box- A- member comprising a collar and a head of disk form is slidable on the piston-rod against the spring 34," and its head is arranged to move into thepiston-chamber and to have close lit with the wall isformed with ports 37, fora purpose hereinafter explained.

A. stop member 38 of flat-ring form and having an annnl-arflangefit) at its outer periphery is slidable in the chamber of the cap in fairly close contact with the wall of the sleeve 12, the flange beingprovided to re strain the member from tilting. The member 38yieldably is held on thelseat 15 by a compression-resistive coil-spring 10 interposed between it and the head of the cap. The stop member, when of the form disclosed by Figs.=1 and 3, is arranged to cover and close all otthe *ports 30 when the head of the piston'comes into contact therewith. The stop 'member also may becorrelated with respect to those ports in such mannerthat partof the port area is let't open when it andthe piston-head come-together; as, for.

example, by anaking the interior periphery of the member of such diameter that it intersects the peripheries of the ports 30 and thus leaves partoi the area of the ports open, as shown by Fig. 7.

The casing is charged with any suitable. fluid-such, torex-ample, as oil or alcohol, the viscosity and other characteristics of the liquid employed being determined by the conditions to be encountered in service and thesensitiveness it is desired tohave in the device, it being-understood, of course, that more resistance to piston inovement is oil'ered w'th heavy fluid than with light.

The device may have its casing and pistonrod connected in any suitable manner with The head It bears at one side incident to operation, the piston ports.

two relatively movable parts, as with the running-gear and with the crown of a vehicle-spring supported thereon. For example, as shown vbyFig. 8, the casing-cap and piston-rod may be formed withgballs A, which are associated, hers B and C connected, respectively, with an axle structure 1) and a body member E. Such an installation is disclosed merely for exempliiication, asthe device will function satisfactorily when in a substantially vertical position the reverse of'that shown and when installed in horizontal or inclined positions.

The several parts preferably are coordinated in such manner that, with the usual conditions of load and roadway, the pistonhead is at, or about at, a position approximately midway between the ends ofthe casing, as shown by Fig; 1, where'it is out of cooperation with the head 36.

,When a vehicle equipped with one or. more of these devices is in motion and the runninggearand a load spring supported thereon are thrust toward each other as a result of irregularities in the roadway or other causes and cap of toward each other. During such movemen fluid in the casing passes freely through all of the ports 30 f cm the outside to the inside ofthe piston, pressure of fluid keeps the valve member 31 in open position on the shoulder 23, fluid flows between the periphery of that member and the piston-wall 33, and the piston only encounters such resistance to movement in that direction results from friction and the forcing of the fluid from one side of the piston to the other.'

each device move If the thrust force is ofsuchextraordinaryamount as to be sufiicient to bring the piston-head and the stop member 38 into contact, that member entirely or partly closes the piston-ports, dependent upon whether it is of the form of Figs. 1 and 3 or that of Fig. 7, and greater resistance is offered to further movement by the cushioning action of fluid and the spring 40 in the cap-chamber, and that movement stopped. Even with the maximum thrust that maybe liable to be imposed on the device, piston movement is stopped by the spring 40 when it closes and thus reaches the limit of its compression, if it is notstopped before by hydrostatic or gas action. I

On cessation of thrust of load and running-gear toward each other andcommencement of rebound or movement in the opposite direction under the influence of springs supporting the load on the running-gear, thepiston and cap move awayfrom each other and fluid in the casing tendst'o flow in the opposite direction through the piston member against the piston-head and closes the ports thereof to the extent it is. arranged to, close them.

with sockets of mem- The fluid instantly moves the valve Accordingly, more resistance is afforded to moven'icnt in that direction than in the thrust direction, and rebound actionin the vehicle is snubbed. Even after slight thrust action with comparatively slight movement of the piston, on commencement of a corresponding rebound action the valve member at once comes into closing relationtothe ports and reaction is restrained.

If the rebound force is sufiicient to bring the head 36 into the piston, increased'resistance to piston movement results from contact of that head with the piston-wall 3; and from fluid pressure until the head and valve member 81 come into contact. Fluid by flowing through the ports 87 in the head 36 is cleared quickly from between the head and the valve member and those parts are permitted. to come close together, with. the valve member entirely closing the ports 37. Then the piston-ports 30 areentirely closed by the head and appreciable further rebound movement checked by the cushioning action of fluid and of the spring 84:, the amount of such movemnt when the device is charged with liquid being only that that may be permitted by slight leakage around port-closing parts. Even with the most forceful rebound action that may be liable to be imposed on the device, piston movement is stopped by the spring 34 when it becomes closed and thus reaches the limit of its compression, if it is not stopped before by hydrostatic or gas action. v

After cessation of rebound action, and when the load begins to settle down toward normal position against its spring supports on the running-gear, the piston and cap move toward each other as they do in re spouse. to thrust action, and under the influence of fluid action the valve member moves from contact with the piston-head to or toward the shoulder 23, and all of the ports 30 are opened. In view of the tendency of the fluid duringmovement of the valve member toward the shoulder 23 to seek the ports 37 of the head 36, that head is separated thereby from the valve member before the valve member reaches the seat, and during further movement of the piston that headis forced by fluid out ofthe piston as the latter approaches normal position.

A device constructed in accordance with any of the cxempliiications herein d sclosed functions efiiciently to resist relative movement of two parts in one direction, to af ford greater resistance to movement of the parts'in the oppositedirection, and to afford greater resistance near the limits of movement in either direction than when the piston is in intermediate position whereby sudden stoppage of moven'ient is avoided. Moreover, the arrangement of valve member and associated parts provided by the fill 7 head having ports connected motion in one direction v having" a port,

invention is such that there iszinstant restriction of flow of fluid and increased resistance to movemnt when theipiston starts (as. in r the rebound) and later there is practically entire closure of fiuidpassages -.vhereby further motion in that direction isstopped. In view of the instant movement of the valve member to port-restricting position, rebound action is restrained even after slight thrust action.

l laving thus describeu my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Let-.

ters Patent, 1s, 7

1. Ashock-absorber comprising a casing, arod recip'roc'able thereinhaving a shoulder, a hollow piston including :to said. rod, a valvemen'lber in said piston :ireely'movable on 'saidrod between:saidshoulder and head arranged to contact with :the latter and restrict flOW Of fluid :thronghlsaid :ports, there being .a' pa ssage rt'rom one side of said gvalve nie'mberato the other, anda :member slidable on said rodin contact; with said piston-wall into and out of -contact with said valve member.

"2. A shock-absorber comprising iii-easing, a. rod recrprocable therein havinga shoulder, and a head having portsconnected to said rod, a

valve member in said piston freely movable on said 21'Od. between said shoulder and head arranged to'contact with the latter there being a passage-flour oneside of said valve 11161111361 zto the .other, and a member,

slidable on said Ted in contact with said piston-Wallinto and out of contact with said valve member. 3. Ashoclz-absorber comprisinga casing, 21 ro'd-ireciprocable therein .a side Welland a- Y and restr ctcfloivof fiuld through said ports,

having a shoulder,

a hollow piston including a side Wall and a head xhaving ports conn cted to said .rod,'a valve member in said piston freely movable .on saidrod between said shoulder and head arranged :to Contact with the latter and to cover some of the area of said ports, there being a passage from one side of said valve vnie nber .to the other, a member slidable on said rodin contact with said piston-Wall into and. out otlcontactwith said valve. memher, and a spring against which said latter member bears von its side opposite to said pistondiead.

in ashock-absorber, the combination of a casing having a seat therein, a rod reciprocabledn said casing having a shoulderya hollow 'aiston including a side Wall and a headhaving-portsconnected to said rod, a valve member in said piston freely movable on said rod-between said shoulderandjhead :rangedto eantact with the latter and res let tiovv ott fluid through said ports, there being-a passage from one side'ot' said valve member tothe other, afimember slida ble on said'rod in contact with said piston- -\vall into and out of Contact with said valve l'l'lCn1l3G1,- a spring against which said latter meml r bears on its side opposite to said piston-head a movable stop member norn'ialiyresting on-said seat in thepath of movement o'fsaid piston-head arranged to contact thereWit-h onthe side opposite-to said Naive memberandrestrict fiow off-fluid through said ports, and a spring 'yieldably pressing saidstop member against said seat and arranged to resist -movement of said piston.

In testimony whereof l aiiix my signature this 17th day 01 March, 1924.

OLAR ANCE W. "rrionrson. 

